FAYETTE COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A routine traffic stop quickly escalated into a dangerous high-speed pursuit in the early morning hours of Thursday, May 15, when a driver fled from law enforcement on Summerlee Road, weaving through multiple streets and towns before crashing into a ditch in Ansted.
Around 1:57 a.m., Officer J.M. Pauley attempted to pull over a gray Honda Civic with a temporary West Virginia tag for repeatedly crossing the solid yellow line. Instead of stopping, the vehicle sped off, blowing through a stop sign and reaching speeds of over 100 mph.
The suspect led officers on a chaotic route: from Summerlee Road to Main Street East, onto Gatewood Road, and narrowly missing a patrol vehicle at Roberts Avenue. The chase continued onto Route 16 toward Fayetteville, where the Civic dangerously passed another vehicle on the wrong side of the road.
After turning onto U.S. Route 19 North and exiting onto Route 60, the fleeing car made it to the town of Ansted before officers executed a box-in maneuver. The driver rammed one of the police vehicles but ended up disabled in a ditch. Officers conducted a felony stop and took both occupants into custody.
The driver was identified as Eric Lee Burgess (DOB 10/17/1999), and the passenger as Alezebeth Green (DOB 04/25/2000). Green told officers that Burgess fled because he believed he had an active warrant. A check through dispatch revealed no warrants, though Burgess had not held a valid driver’s license since 2021.
Green was released after speaking with officers. Burgess was transported to Plateau Medical Center for medical clearance before being booked.
